Chapter 416: Land of Divine Punishment

Second Master Shi patted his shoulder. "Have fun in Tongluo County; I'll cover your expenses." He had to repay the life-saving favor from Fiend Mountain, and he would do so gradually.

Walking on the plain, He Lingchuan finally understood why it was called "Twilight"—it was a euphemism. It was already mid-May. From Yuan Kingdom to Beijia, everywhere else was lush with grass and singing orioles, buzzing with bees and fluttering butterflies. Even Fiend Rock, perpetually windswept, had a patch of vibrant flowers at its base.

But Twilight Plain was truly desolate. The vegetation grew feebly, half-yellow, half-green. Despite having water, reeds that grew ten feet tall elsewhere only reached four or five feet here. After the caravan traveled three *li*, He Lingchuan could count all the trees they encountered on two hands. It couldn't even compare to the high-altitude Gale Plain, which at this time of year was a beautiful expanse of meadows and grasslands.

The farmlands by the roadside were pitifully sparse, the crops withered as if struck by autumn frost, also half-dead. He Lingchuan saw no one working, no cattle on the field paths, and no smoke rising from farmhouses.

"What's wrong with this place? Nothing grows?"

"This is a cursed land," Second Master Shi said, putting a chew of tobacco into his mouth. "About two hundred years ago, wasn't there a war that destroyed a nation here? It was because of that battle. They say the Demon Emperor issued an order to slaughter the city, and not even a chicken survived in Ganxing City, the capital of Yuan Kingdom. Afterwards, this place became abandoned by the gods; crops couldn't grow, and livestock couldn't thrive. Some also say that too many people died, causing the entire plain to be filled with resentment, spoiling the *feng shui* and earthly energy."

"What does that have to do with Heaven? I think this place should be called 'God-forsaken Land.' With so many capable people in Beijia Kingdom, why can't they dispel the resentment here? There are four Imperial Advisors alone, not to mention other powerful figures."

By the way, the captive he caught in Zhao Pan's camp had a Dragon Punishment Pillar and claimed to be an Imperial Advisor collecting battlefield resentment and hatred for salvation. Why didn't he succeed in purifying this place?

"How would I know? It's just a legend. It happened nearly two hundred years ago; who's going to get serious about it?" Second Master Shi gave a dry chuckle. "But it seems this kind of situation has happened elsewhere too."

"Where?"

"The Coiling Dragon Desert in Yuan Kingdom. I heard there used to be cities and people there, but then they angered the gods and it became a desert where living people can hardly enter, even worse than this place." Second Master Shi suddenly remembered, "Oh, aren't you from Yuan Kingdom? Do you know about it?"

He Lingchuan nodded. "Perfectly clear."

But the main reason the Coiling Dragon Wasteland was enveloped in shifting sands was simply the rampant Three Corpse Worms released by the Great Square Jar. As He Lingchuan walked on this plain, although the sun was bright, it offered no warmth to his body. If he stepped onto the ground, he could even feel waves of chilling cold from beneath his feet. Such places also had another name: God-forsaken and Ghost-repelled.

"Over the past five or six hundred years, many demon kings have rebelled. Did their territories all end up like this?"

Second Master Shi chuckled. "How would I know?" "It's really strange that Tongluo County was built here."

"Not strange at all. Twilight Plain is so vast; there needs to be a place for travelers to rest," Second Master Shi said indifferently. After all, they were just transient visitors no matter how often they came. "Besides, these low-caste people can't leave Twilight Plain, so they need a place to live."

He Lingchuan frowned slightly.

Second Master Shi, with a merchant's natural keenness, immediately waved his hand when he saw He Lingchuan's expression. "This term 'low-caste people' isn't my insult; it's officially designated."

"Officially designated?" He Lingchuan asked, surprised. "Is this a place of exile?"

There were also low-caste people in the places Young Master He had lived. Blackwater City was a frontier region, and Yuan Kingdom had always preferred to exile criminals to the borders. As criminals, they weren't registered in the local census; their names were only listed on a special roster, making them the lowest class of people who could only survive by selling their labor or their bodies.

"Ah, you could say that," Second Master Shi said. "These unfortunate souls are descendants of the Yuan Kingdom. Over 190 years ago, Ganxing City was massacred, and Yuan Kingdom was destroyed. The survivors became slaves of a vanquished nation. Because the Yuan King angered the gods, the Demon Emperor punished their descendants: men were to be slaves for generations, and women prostitutes for generations, never to rise again or be redeemed. Later, any criminals from Lingxu City who were to be exiled would also be sent here."

He Lingchuan gasped. "Nearly two hundred years, and this punishment hasn't been lifted?"

"The Demon Emperor has a long life. For us, it's the span of over a dozen generations; for the old man, it's only half a lifetime." The previous Demon Emperor reigned the longest, a full 380 years. "I wonder if the current one can break that record? Perhaps the old man just hasn't cooled down yet?"

"This punishment is too severe. It seems it's meant to serve as a warning, to make others watch and remember, and give up any such thoughts." The Demon Emperor allowed various demon kingdoms to vie for kingship among themselves but forbade them from defying the Heavenly Gods. Otherwise, he would casually bestow the "great gift package" of national destruction and descendants eternally enslaved. This showed how strong the gods' control over this country was.

Soon, the caravan entered what Second Master Shi called a hub for lavish spending and entertainment.

Tongluo County was built by a river bend, making water access convenient. The scenery on the bank was unremarkable, but the water was very clear. Consequently, many painted pleasure boats were docked at the pier, the tallest having three levels, looking like floating houses when they moved.

The county had inns, restaurants, entertainment venues, casinos, bathhouses, brothels, and maze-like pleasure houses... All entertainment available elsewhere could be found here, and they were all striving to expand and improve, because there were simply no other industries here.

Of course, enjoyment was stratified. Along the main street He Lingchuan had just walked, the signs on both sides were increasingly large and opulent, brightly lit until dawn, with constant clinking of cups and sounds of music and singing. The men and women in the establishments were all smiling industriously. As long as you had money, you could eat the freshest seafood, drink the finest aged wine, and, of course, find charming courtesans to discuss ideals with under the covers. If your pockets only jingled with two copper coins, you were only fit to find a clandestine prostitute outside a small restaurant. He Lingchuan saw a man standing by the roadside, bargaining with a clandestine prostitute. These clandestine prostitutes typically conducted their business directly from their homes. Their husbands were also low-caste slaves, responsible for serving tea and wine to guests, and providing towels and spittoons.

As soon as the caravan settled in the county town, the porters scattered, even the stableman vanished—He Lingchuan had just been about to tell him to feed the rock goats more bean cakes and aged wine. After the peril at Wind Fan Mountain, Second Master Shi had given them a small sum for 'calming the nerves.' Before the money was even warm in their pockets, they were eager to spend it.

Second Master Shi advised He Lingchuan, "You can enjoy yourself freely on the main street, and the two rows of streets behind it too. But don't go any further; it's dangerous."

"There's danger even here?"

"The places upfront are all properties of Lingxu City's dignitaries and gentry, with dedicated guards. As long as you pay the price and spend money inside, safety is guaranteed." The two were on the second floor of the inn, and Second Master Shi pointed down to show him. "Look at the dark, unlit areas behind; those are probably where the low-caste people live. All sorts of shady characters are in there, all kinds of strange things. Two years ago, a porter from my caravan got drunk and wandered in, and I still haven't found him."

He saw He Lingchuan walking back. "Have you decided where to go for fun?"

"No, Second Master, you go ahead."

"Huh, you're only seventeen or eighteen, a vigorous age. Why don't you have a taste for this?" Second Master Shi stroked his chin, sizing him up, then belatedly remembered that He Lingchuan hadn't sought out women at all on this journey. "Could it be some hidden ailment? Oh, what a pity, such a handsome face wasted."

He Lingchuan knew from his gaze that he was getting the wrong idea. "It's a family martial art; it's forbidden before eighteen."

"Oh, oh," Second Master Shi said, pretending to believe him, and didn't press the matter. "Come down whenever you change your mind. Also, that Golden Spring Elegant Bathhouse across the street is a legitimate place; you can take a bath or soak there. No girls will pounce on you unless you nod." With that, he leisurely went downstairs.

He Lingchuan shook his head. Looking at the main street, ablaze with lights and revelry, he didn't want to go to a pleasure establishment. But a man needs to eat; food is like iron and rice is like steel. He had endured two days of dust and grime on the wasteland. Now, seeing the sign for Golden Spring Elegant Bathhouse, his body suddenly felt itchy.

So, fifteen minutes later, he was soaking in a large wooden tub at Golden Spring. Tongluo County had everything for eating, drinking, and entertainment, but no real hot springs. Guests who wanted to soak would just bathe in hot water, at most with some medicinal powder added to simulate a medicinal bath. But here, except for the "hot springs," everything else was genuine. The service was extremely thorough: you could get a haircut, a shave, a manicure, a massage. There was ample wine, tea, and tobacco, and the chefs in the back kitchen were on standby twenty-four hours a day. You could order a steaming bowl of fresh pork liver congee or two or three baskets of pan-fried dumplings at any time.

The place was divided into two sections: Elegant Baths and Mixed Baths. Elegant Baths were private single rooms with a table, chairs, a bed, and a wooden tub. Mixed Baths, well, those were for group enjoyment. He Lingchuan naturally opted for the Elegant Bath. However, even the private rooms had very poor soundproofing. Moreover, the large wooden tub was placed by the window, from which he could see the backroom "play" at the brothel across the street. The room across the street was lit. With the window closed, it was a very intense shadow play; with the window open, it was an action scene, with women's exaggerated, distorted screams drifting in through the steamy air, seeming very unreal. It wasn't easy to get a good meal; performing required great effort too.

After soaking for half an hour, He Lingchuan felt hungry. He changed into his clothes and was about to go to the front hall to order something to eat when the private room door suddenly burst open with a crash. Three men rushed in, glaring menacingly, and demanded, "Where's the person hidden?" An owl also flew in with a flutter and landed on a beam, looking around.

He Lingchuan looked bewildered. "Who?"

The three men seemed out of breath from running. They quickly checked behind the screen, on the beams, under the bed, and even lifted the toilet lid, afraid someone might be hiding inside. One of them looked out the window but became captivated by the "action scene" across the way, unable to tear his eyes away. He Lingchuan leaned closer to look and saw that it was indeed a high-difficulty performance. The other two walked over and slapped their companion hard on the head. "What are you staring at? Keep searching!"